Activity: Hero, Hardship, Highlight
The Purpose of this activity is to challenge each athlete to reflect on their life and nail down three moments that have aided in who they are today.
To Scold or Mold
"A coach is merely the extension of a child's dream." Former South African Rugby National Coach Peter DeVilliers leans in, piercing me with his eyes while the echo of his words bounces around in my head. He continues, "At the end of your life, you will be called into account for all the kids who were put under your supervision." Coach DeVilliers raises both hands up high in a victory pose. "These kids are gold! They are precious minerals that can be shaped and formed, and it is your duty to play your part!"
The Leadership of Alice and Dorothy
These two legends of literature have many great pearls of wisdom, especially regarding leadership. Recently, I read both Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz, and I find it interesting how much of each adventure has been left out of the popular movie adaptations. Still, and more importantly, I was surprised at the number of applicable life lessons to be learned from Alice and Dorothy.
Thirty years of coaching: Two Paths
In the world of coaching, there are two distinct paths one can choose to embark upon. The first path is a journey of continuous growth, learning, and improvement. The second path, on the other hand, is a repetition of the same year, repeated 30 times over. The choice between these two paths ultimately determines the trajectory and success of our coaching careers.
The Zipper Phenomena
This week, look for situations in practice, competition, or life where the child is struggling. Let them struggle a bit before you intervene (so long as it is safe), and the payoff will outweigh the struggle.
Freedom of Speech and the Social Media Scrub
It is not easy to be a child these days, with every moment being recorded and archived. Mistakes can follow them for life and limit their future opportunities. Let's help them see the ridiculousness of social media and teach them to add positivity to the world.
Perspective is Everything
As coaches, we are storytellers, and we are the ones permitted by our athletes to help explain what is going on and why it happened. At our best, we can broaden their perspective and give them better options than what is offered through the different forms of media available to them.
Coach the species, not the sport
"Records are deceiving, buddy." He went on, "I won't know how I did as a coach for 10, maybe 15 years. When those young men finish college, start a family, and are productive members of society, then I'll know I did my part well. I have never forgotten that conversation.
Normalizing Championship Reps
Normalize the idea of championship reps. The big game may be months away, but the preparation starts today, right now.
The Gift of Struggle
A man once tried to help a struggling butterfly out of its chrysalis by slitting it open. A beautiful butterfly emerged, but its wings were tiny and not yet fully formed. Since the process was prematurely interrupted, the butterfly could never fly. Trying to shortcut the process and help, the man instead doomed the creature. The struggle is necessary for the butterfly, as it is for us.
Girl Push-ups
Your words matter. Your influence is strong. What you tell your athletes will echo in their minds for the rest of their lives. Chose your words carefully.
what makes a great coach?
If you want to be an effective teacher, coach, manager, or parent, you need more than a title to be influential. Whatever role you have in a person’s life, you can only impact a person as far as they let you. So when you get that chance, put your teacher hat on and give them your best stuff!
a whisper of inspiration
Coach, next time your athlete makes a mistake, take a deep breath and talk to them in a whisper. They know what they did wrong, and if done right, you might create a moment that athlete will remember the rest of their life.